Fewer Companies Sending Tech Jobs Overseas

February 18, 2012

Outsourcing in the U.S. technology industry has declined for the third straight year, according to a recent study by BDO USA, LLP, an accounting and consulting firm. Among the 100 U.S. technology CFOs polled, just 32 percent said they currently outsource services or manufacturing to companies outside of the U.S.

This marks a notable shift from 2009 when nearly twice as many companies (62 percent) were outsourcing.

As the tech industry moves jobs stateside, companies are looking to bolster their workforce in 2012. Fifty percent of CFOs plan to hire more employees this year. The outlook is positive for tech industry jobs to stay in the U.S. Among the companies who are not currently outsourcing, 80 percent report that they are unlikely to outsource services or manufacturing overseas in the near future.

“With unemployment numbers still hovering above 8 percent, pressure is mounting from Washington to bring jobs home. The tech industry seems to be moving in that direction, which is good news for U.S. job seekers,” said Paul Heiselmann, in the Technology and Life Sciences practice at BDO USA, LLP. “Bringing services and manufacturing back to the U.S. is also a smart move for tech companies looking to improve the quality of service and reduce exposure to international risks and major supply chain disruptions.”

These findings are from the fifth-annual BDO Technology Outlook Survey, which examined the opinions of 100 CFOs at technology companies throughout the U.S. The survey was conducted from December 2011 to January 2012.